Just Refined Enough: The Influencers

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by the 1800® Team

In May, 1800® Tequila is partnering with four talented Instagram influencers to bring its new campaign, Just Refined Enough, to life. These four skilled individuals will be taking over the @1800Tequila channels and posting exclusive content each week. Find out who our influencers are and learn more about them in our Q&A below.

My name is Mateo Berry. I’m from Los Angeles, California. I am a full-time Designer/Creative Director and Creative Consultant. I also shoot film & photos when I’m in the mood for it. Nine times out of ten if you see me, I have at least one of my cameras with me. I’ve designed for a couple brands and I am preparing for the full launch of my own brand known as Reserved Essential.

What is your interpretation of #JustRefinedEnough? What does it mean to you?

I always stood behind the phrase “hard work pays off”. So when I hear #JustRefinedEnough, I think about perfecting your craft, taking it to the next level but never forgetting where you came from. Just Refined Enough to make things happen, not being extra with it. Appreciating the successes and never forgetting the struggles. I have been able to grow my brand and continue to find new ways to create, driving the culture forward.

In your world, who do you think is #JustRefinedEnough and why?

I’m going to say my lil bro Quinn (@dunziellas). He started off as my assistant and works hard. He’s down to learn and continues to work at his crafts. I think he’s #JustRefinedEnough because he doesn’t get ahead of himself like some of the younger generation. He wants to listen and learn, he’s on the come up. He is around me a lot and I get to see his work ethic and drive. I know he will definitely be a creative force and an all around refined individual.

My name is Denny Balmaceda. I am 29 years old and from Jersey City, NJ. I’ve been a menswear blogger since 2008. I graduated high school back in 2006 and decided not to attend college; my older sisters found me a job as a travel agent of all things! I was often so bored at work that I decided to make a visual diary out of my daily outfits. Mind you, this was almost 10 years ago and everything I was doing seemed odd to everyone. People thought I was vain or weird, but I realized more and more people were into what I was doing and that’s how I gained my following. Everything was very organic and, to this day, I love telling the story of how I started. It inspires me to keep moving and reminds me that I actually have a shot to achieve all my life goals. I grew up, my style matured and my life changed for the best. It’s not every day you can say that you actually pursued your dreams and obtained your dream job.

What is your interpretation of #JustRefinedEnough? What does it mean to you?

As a man who’s very into menswear, I think #JustRefinedEnough is the perfect description of myself. I’ve studied everything about menswear. I worked at a vintage store for 3 years and I just absorbed everything. To me, a true fashionable gentleman pays attention to details. From getting your clothes tailored to your size, to getting your shoes shined occasionally, every detail should matter. And not just with clothes, but in your overall work ethic. Whenever I have a project coming up, I like to scout locations, hire the perfect photographer and pick out the outfits ahead of time. Everything about me comes as a package, I like to present myself as a professional. That’s what #JustRefinedEnough means to me.

In your world, who do you think is #JustRefinedEnough and why?

In my world, the person who was #JustRefinedEnough was my late mother. She was naturally elegant. She could be at home on a regular day and still be flawless. She had the most beautiful skin I’ve ever seen, she was a living porcelain doll. I miss her now while typing this. I can still see her in my head getting ready every morning, she was perfect to me in every way. To me, my mother is the perfect definition of refined.

I’m a photographer from Detroit. I enjoy utilizing photography to travel and meet people through exploration and new experiences. I got my start in photography as a sneakerhead at 16 when I bought my first camera to take photos of my shoes. I now shoot a wide variety of subjects, but portraits are my favorite thing to capture.

What is your interpretation of #JustRefinedEnough? What does it mean to you?

To me, #JustRefinedEnough means curated, cultivated and professional without trying too hard to appear a certain way. #JustRefinedEnough represents being well-cultured in a casual, mature way.

In your world, who do you think is #JustRefinedEnough and why?

In my world, Christopher Burcham (@burchbox) is #JustRefinedEnough. Burch is constantly on the move, involving himself with various projects around the scene in Detroit. He’s effortlessly cool and doesn’t sacrifice or downplay any part of his identity.

Tune into the 1800® Tequila social channels throughout the month of May to witness our first influencer takeover and see the exclusive content being crafted.